Anaheim Ducks 4, Dallas Stars 2

by Mark Stepneski of Andrew's Stars Page

DALLAS — Coming into Tuesday's game the Anaheim Ducks said they wanted to start by winning the first period. They did that and more at the American Airlines Center. The Ducks won the first two periods, stopped a third period Dallas rally with a key penalty kill, won the game 4-2 and cut the Stars' lead in the series to 2-1.

The Stars, who outshot the Ducks 33-15 in the game, were hurt by some turnovers and two Anaheim power play goals.

"We looked jittery and made some uncharacteristic mistakes,'' coach Dave Tippett said. "The reality check came in tonight about how hard this series is going to be.''

The Ducks, who were facing the prospects of a 3-0 deficit in the series, built a 3-0 first period lead to take the American Airlines Center crowd out of the game.

"We couldn't afford to have a weak start to the game in their building," said Anaheim goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who stopped 31 of 33 shots. "We knew they would have energy, so we wanted to start strong. Fortunately, we were able to score some goals. It makes your life easier that way."

The Ducks led 3-0 after one period and 4-0 after two, but the Stars made it interesting in the third period. Stars captain Brenden Morrow scored power play goals at the 5:43 and 7:22 marks, giving the Stars momentum and igniting the crowd at the AAC.

The Stars then got a 4:00 minute power play with 9:21 remaining after Anaheim defenseman Mathieu Schneider took a double minor for high sticking and the pressure was on the Ducks' penalty kill, which had given up eight power play goals in the series already. But this time the Ducks penalty kill delivered, thwarting the chance and the Stars' rally.

"They had just scored their two goals and were gaining momentum," Ducks captain Chris Pronger said. "We needed to clamp down and make sure we weren't allowing those seam passes and those cross-crease passes. That's where they've been getting most of their really good scoring chances, especially on the power play. It was just a matter of us tightening up the box."

Pronger had two goals, both on the power play, and an assist in leading the Ducks. Mike Modano and Mike Ribeiro both had two assists in the game. Stars goalie Marty Turco stopped 11 of 15 shots on the night.

The Stars had the Ducks scrambling early in the game and Dallas got an early power play chance, but couldn't take advantage.

The Ducks would then go on to score on three straight shots - all of them prime chances - over a 7:52 span to take a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. They struck first a 6:39 when Travis Moen knocked Mattias Norstrom off the puck behind the net and centered it to Todd Marchant, scored from close range.

Four minutes later, after a Stars turnover, Ryan Getzlaf skated in on net and slipped a backhand shot past Turco to make it a 2-0 game.

The Ducks scored on their first power play of the game at 14:41 of the period when Todd Bertuzzi sent a pass to the front of the net where Chris Pronger put into the open side of the net to make it 3-0 game.

The Ducks extended the lead to 4-0 with a five-on-three power play goal 5:34 into the second period when Pronger scored off a shot from the slot for his second power play goal of the game.

"We came out and had some great chances that didn't go in," Tippett said. "We got tentative and allowed a few, but it took a period or two to get it back going. They took advantage of their chances and we didn't."